I set a goal this year to read 36 books, so I wanted to update on how my progress is going with that goal. So far, I’ve read 20 books this year and have enjoyed most of them. I do have a hard time being overly critical of a book because I know reading is so subjective and personal. At this point, this political thriller is one of my favorite book of 2022! I also really enjoyed Black Cake, The Golden Couple, and The Paris Apartment the most during this chunk of reading. You can see everything I read last year here and everything I read in January and February here.
For more of my book recommendations, check out this page that lives under my Lifestyle tab. You can also follow along on my Instagram here and my Bookshop Page here. I recently switched to using Bookshop as every purchase supports local bookstores. Here are some of my favorites in North Carolina.
Everything I Read in March & April
Everything I Read in March
Anne of Manhattan by Brina Starler
- This book is a play off of Anne of Green Gables, with Anne having an idyllic childhood before heading off to New York City. Anne and her friends reconnect with her long-time arch-rival, Gil, from high school. They end up in the same graduate program in the city and become partners for their masters project before some of Anne’s mistrust resurfaces. This book was cheesy and at time a little cringing at times; though, I still read it pretty quickly. I needed something to distract from the real world so this was good for that!
- ⭐️⭐️.5
The Golden Couple by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen
- This book was my favorite one of March! It is a thriller and one that definitely kept me on the edge of my seat. While I realized what happened towards the end of the book, it was late enough that it did not take away from my enjoyment reading this. The story is about a couple, Marissa and Matthew, who start marriage counseling with Avery, who lost her professional license though still counsels in an unorthodox manner. Marissa has had an affair and is trying to save her marriage. There are a lot of secrets still hidden and a lot of danger.
- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Red, White, & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
- I just loved this book! It was such a delight! The adorable frenemy-turned-lover romance you wish the Royals and the First Family were mixed up in. The main characters are Alex Claremont-Diaz, the son of America’s first female president and his arch-nemesis, the Prince of Wales, Henry. It is funny, charming, and quite escapist. Definitely add it to your summer reading list as it is a perfect beach or pool read.
- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
While We Were Dating by Jasmine Guillory
- No one does romance better than Jasmine Guillory! This book was a fun read, especially with the story line of Ava, the Hollywood starlet and Ben, who has never bothered with serious relationships. I loved the evolution of their relationship, the fun they have to keep their relationship out of the press, and the conundrum of their family dynamics.
- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang
- This was the first book I read by Helen Hoang, and I actually bought the third book (pictured above) before realizing that this was a series. So, I backtracked and read the first book to go in order. It definitely was not the story I thought it was going to be, in a good way. It was a quick read by an interesting author.
- ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Everything I Read in April
The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley
- I love Lucy Foley as an author and was really looking forward to this read! There were places in the book that I thought she could have gone more in depth to make it a more robust story. Despite that, it is a good “whodunit” book and one that I did fly through. However, I still enjoyed The Guest List better!
- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson
- Whooooo buddy. This book came highly recommended by some people who I trust for good book recommendations and it did *not* disappoint. There is family drama, cross-cultural learning and history, secrets, and the impact of food on cultures. It was so, so, so good. There were a lot of references that are just a little too on the nose and relevant to things happening in the world today. I highly recommend this one out of all 10 that I read in this cycle!
- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Run Rose Run by Dolly Parton & James Patterson
- Listen, I will not disrespect queen Dolly. I enjoyed this book because my lady tried something new and she wrote a novel! There were some things that I did not enjoy, such as the narrative of a woman needing to be saved by a man. However, I could picture Ruthanna Ryder as a cross between Dolly and Rayna James from Nashville, and I did like that.
- ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry
- I reallllllly enjoy Emily Henry novels and this one came highly recommended to me. It was a good one and I flew through it. I loved the twists of this story and the idea of traveling making such an impact on people coming out of their shells and trying something new. Add this to your list to read on vacation this summer!
- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Cartographers by Peng Shepherd
- This book is an ode to art, science, history, and the magic of finding new places and skills. When I taught high school social studies, I was an AP Human Geography teacher, which really lit my soul on fire. The passion I felt reading this book plus the storyline made for such an enjoyable read!
- ⭐️⭐️⭐️
